Santa Cruz Symphony’s commitment to music education goes far beyond "Do-Re-Mi." Our educational programs include professional musicians, movement, rhythm, dancing, instruments, group participation, cultural traditions, and so much more. We invite some of the best music and dance performers in the county to help us inspire your children.
But that's not all. This Sunday, February 25, at 2pm you'll get to enjoy the culmination of all this education. Our annual Family Concert at the Civic Auditorium is an extravaganza of musical and dance talent from all over Santa Cruz County. Parents, grandparents, and children look forward to this event every year. We've even seen children dancing in the aisles and applauding.
Here are the incredible community partner organizations who will share the stage with Santa Cruz Symphony on Sunday afternoon...
Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony
Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony serves young musicians ages 10 to 20 as the area’s only training orchestra of pre-professional caliber. Under the guidance of Music Director Nathaniel Berman, the Youth Symphony cultivates a love of classical music and a spirit of collaboration among young musicians of Santa Cruz County and introduces young people from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to the joys of orchestral and chamber music. Learn more at sccys.org.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus
The Cabrillo Youth Chorus seeks to educate, develop, and inspire young people to attain the highest possible level of choral artistry. This goal is achieved through excellent teaching with a focus on music literacy, tone development, ear-training, and working with professional musicians. Since its inception, nearly 1,000 young singers have been through the program, many of whom have become music majors in college. Learn more at cabrilloyouthchorus.org.
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s mission is to inspire the community and create opportunities for young artists through the advancement of the art of ballet. A pre-professional training organization, SCBT has graduated many dancers into the field of classical ballet. SCBT builds leaders in their dancers by instilling work ethic, organizational skills, self-confidence, cognitive thinking, and teamwork. Learn more at scbt.org.
Esperanza del Valle
Esperanza del Valle Ballet Folklórico Dance Company of Watsonville has been dedicated to the dissemination, preservation, and performance of the rich traditional dances of Mexico in the community since 1980. Their mission is to cultivate and promote pride and understanding of Mexican culture through its rich folkloric dances rooted in the merging of the Indigenous, European, and African heritages. Learn more at esperanzadelvalle.org.
El Sistema
El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley gives the children of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley the tools to claim their cultural heritage and build their creative and social legacy through music education. Believing that learning to read and play music together will develop children’s individual talents and teach them how to collaborate, the group has garnered national recognition, with support from esteemed funders such as the Lewis Prize and the National Endowment for the Arts. Find them on Facebook or learn more at elsistemasantacruz.org.
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band
The Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band showcases talented high-school student musicians from Santa Cruz County and the Central Coast region. During weekly rehearsals, the band studies advanced jazz theory, arranging, and improvisation, all while learning valuable life skills in teamwork and critical thinking. You can find Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band performing at special events and festivals throughout the school year, culminating in a special headline performance at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Learn more at kuumbwajazz.org.